Latest news with #ZWO
BBC News
2 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Check out these images capturing the wonders of space
Here's one for all you stargazers, budding space scientists and lovers of all things out of this world. The Royal Observatory Greenwich has revealed the shortlist for its annual ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition. There were over 5,500 entries for the contest, which is now in its 17th year, from nearly 70 countries worldwide. Photos were submitted from both amateur and professional photographers who were all keen to impress the judges with their outer space shots. But which ones made the cut this year? Read on to take a look at some of the images on the 2025 shortlist. This incredible photo shows an event known as a solar prominence eruption. This is when gas extends outwards from the Sun's surface and this can create some pretty impressive shapes. This eruption, snapped on 7 November 2024, lasted about one hour from the initial burst to its end. This photo is of a supernova remnant called Abell 85. Supernova remnants are formed after a star explodes. This one is shaped a bit like a pomegranate and the photographer, Deqian Li, spent six days camping in the Hongyuan County in China to capture it. This image beautifully captures the Cygnus region of the Milky Way from Gerakies, part of the photo closest to the camera was captured during blue hour, which is the time just before the sun rises or just after it sets, to achieve greater detail of the distant mountains and the trees directly in front of the camera. How cool is this photo! It shows a dragon tree standing tall in the heart of Socotra's Dragon Blood Tree forest in Yemen. The final image is actually made up of 300 individual shots. This picture really captures the spectacular wonders of space. It shows lots of stars, a glowing cloud of gas known as an emission nebula and a mysterious central bulge. Did you know the mist surrounding the galaxy is actually tens of thousands of yellowish tiny stars? This photograph is of M33, a huge galaxy three million light-years away from Earth. It's also known as the Triangulum Galaxy and has around 40 billion stars. This impressive panorama is a view from the Utah desert. It captures the mysterious landscape below a starry Milky Way. This magical looking image was taken in a location on Senja island in Norway. It shows the mesmerising colours of the aurora in the sky. Snapped on the evening of 12 October 2024 at Pu'u O Kaimukī Park in Hawaii, this photo shows the passage of Comet C/2023 was one of the most anticipated astronomical events of the year. How amazing does the Moon look here? It was snapped above the peaks of the Dolomite mountains in Italy. With no clouds in sight, the golden light of sunset can be seen right across the mountains. The winners of each of the competition's nine categories, two other special prizes and the overall winner will be announced on Thursday 11 September 2025. Those looking to catch a glimpse of the photos up close will be able to do so at a special exhibition at the National Maritime Museum from Friday 12 September. "...we believe that astrophotography is not only a way to record the cosmos, but also a way to inspire curiosity, foster education and build communities that transcend borders," said Sam Wen the founder and CEO of ZWO."Everyone deserves a chance to connect with the Universe — and through our support, we hope to bring that experience to more people."What of the shortlisted images is your favourite and why? You can let us know in the comments below.
Forbes
7 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
In Photos: Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Shortlist Revealed
Aurora Over Mono Lake: A Rare Dance of Light © Daniel Zafra The Royal Observatory Greenwich has unveiled the shortlisted images for the annual ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year, which celebrates the best space photography from around the world. The entries feature the spectacular displays of aurora in 2024, the Milky Way, stunning star trails, total solar eclipses and the moon. The Royal Observatory Greenwich reports that it had over 5,500 entries from 69 countries for what is generally agreed to be the most prestigious astrophotography competition. The overall winner, who will receive $13,600, will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 11, along with the winners of the competition's other nine categories and two special prizes. The winning photographs will be showcased at the National Maritime Museum, close to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, from Sept. 12. 'This competition is a tribute to those who turn their eyes to the stars and share what they see with the world,' said Sam Wen, Founder and CEO of ZWO, the competition's sponsor. A solitary dragon tree stands tall in the heart of Socotra's Dragon Blood Tree forest, Yemen. A Dragon Tree Trail In Yemen One of the most striking images is this one above, of a Dragon Tree on the island of Socotra, Yemen. It was taken by Benjamin Barakat while in the heart of Socotra's Dragon Blood Tree forest in March 2024. Another standout is the main image at the top of this article, of the Northern Lights over Mono Lake, California. It was shot by Dan Zafra at who was shortlisted in 2022 and won the people's choice category. 'This photograph captures the rare occurrence of Northern Lights in California,' he says. 'Vibrant ribbons of magenta and green light up the sky, reflecting in the still waters among the rock formations.' The shot was taken on Oct. 10, 2024, one of the three strongest displays of aurora in 2024. The full Moon rising above the rugged peaks of the Dolomites. With no clouds in sight and in ... More flawless conditions, the golden light of sunset bathes the mountains, creating harmony between Earth and sky. The Full Moon The shortlist contains multiple images of the moon. Above is the full moon rising above the rugged peaks of the Dolomites in Italy. Shot in perfect conditions, the golden light of sunset bathes the mountains, and the timing of the shot is exquisite. Photographer Fabian Dalpiaz calls this shot 'Moonrise Perfection Over the Dolomites.' There are other images of the moon — another moonrise, one of the International Space Station appears to transit its disk and another of a moon-Saturn occultation. The Beaver Moon was the last supermoon of 2024. This photograph was taken from the hazy, Bortle 9 ... More skies of Delhi. The full-disc mosaic is composed of 24 images then stitched together to create a seamless mosaic. The 'Mineral Moon' The 'Mineral Moon' Photographer Karthik Easvur took the image, above, of November 2024's beaver moon — the year's last supermoon — while in Delhi, India. It was created by first taking hundreds of images and stacking them together, drawing out faint color differences during processing — particularly titanium (blue) and iron (orange and brown). While you can't see these colors with the naked eye, they're based on real data and give valuable insight into the moon's composition and geological history. Below is another standout Milky Way image, taken by photographer Yujie Zhang in August 2024 while in Songyang County, China. It shows several black geometric buildings appearing to stand on the water's surface. Gateway to the Galaxy © Yujie Zhang What Is The Royal Observatory Greenwich? The Royal Observatory Greenwich is home to Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian, an imaginary line of longitude, designated as 0 degrees that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. The Prime Meridian — which divides the western and eastern hemispheres of the world — is marked as a line on the floor of its courtyard on a hill in Greenwich Park in southeast London, overlooking the River Thames. The first state-funded, purpose-built scientific institution in the U.K., in 2025, it's marking 350 years since its foundation in 1675. It was set up by King Charles II to help with astronomy and navigation in an era of European exploration and increasing international trade. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
